1937-05-11 — Page 10

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́ ́ him, and “he sat down amid vehement plaudits. Then, when the pusiness was at an end he rose and for the last time walked away from the House of Commons. He had first ad- dressed it sixty-nine years be- fore.

7, Garrick Street, London, W.C.2. than

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turn

If we turn back the page more one hundred and fifty years and let the same writer describe the passing from the House of another great House of we read: "Be- All communications intended for Commons man, publication should be addressed to tween the two divisions on the Chippenham petition, Walpole the Editor, and be accompanied by had made up his mind that all must be over the King, who had so bravely supported him against the violence of foes and the perfidy of friends, was deep- ly moved; he fell on the Minis- ter's réck, wept, and kissed him and begged to see him frequent- ly.

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Hong Kong, Tuesday, May 11, 1937

MR. BALDWIN'S FAREWELL

Although the immediate peril of a national coal strike is not over, Mr. Baldwin must have been almost grateful to the miners of Harworth for the opportunity they gave him of a dramatic fare-

On the evening of February 2, 1742, when the final division against him took place, Wal- pole walked away for the last time out of that famous cham- ber where for forty years he had laboured so assiduously for the national good.

In both these cases there was some sorrow. A more cheerful departure was that of Disraeli, whose last words in the Com- mons, on August 11, 1876, were "What our duty is at this critical moment is to maintain the Em- pire of England."

well speech to the House of Hardly A Laughing Commons. It was an usually Matter

fitting climax, having regard to

arise

the general trend of Mr. Bald- The daring suggestion is made by "Urbanus" of the “Church win's political career, that a na-Times" that "it would be a high- tional crisis should

toly popular act on the part of his furnish him for his final speech Majesty if he were to revive the with the theme nearest to his office of Court jester." Bearing in mind the amount of argument heart, the cause of democracy which arises whenever official- and loyalty to the Crown. "In dom is faced with the task of ap- the Abbey, within a week," he pointing a Poet Laureate, one would imagine that the proclaimed, "a young King and

King's advisers would earn- his Queen called suddenly and estly. pray to be spared unexpectedly to the most the embarrassment of select- tremendous position on earth ing an official jester as well as Still, there will kneel to dedicate themselves an official bard.

would be certain awe-inspiring the service their people possibilities about the innovation. which would end only with The King's Champion no longer death. May I appeal to the rides into Westminster Hall, but handful of people with whom the idea of the King's Jester peace in the Harworth Colliery emerging at some of the forth- dispute rests to do the thing coming festivities to crack, amid which will rejoice the hearts

of

profound and expectant silence, all to dissipate the dark cloud the official Coronation joke sug- that threatens a strike all over gests an historical moment that the country and to show the might be long remembered, But world that British democracy no sort of doubts on the subject can still practice the arts of could be allowed. There would peace in a world of strife.”

to

have to be no nonsense about ""To laugh or not to laugh, that is the learn to curtsy, so the privileged question"; just as debutantes

hearers of the official joke would have to learn to guffaw and then the great jest and its rever- berations would go crackling round the world by wireless.

So profound was the impres- sion caused by the plea that the controversialists forgot their speeches, abandoned all idea of further debate and joined in the acclaim. Mr. Baldwin could not have elected a more remarkable mode of exit to his career in the House had he pre-arranged this It sounds like a wonderful mo- demonstration of the marvellous ment for the duly appointed power of oratory. The history jester. But one awful possibility of Parliament reveals few parallel lurks in the background: that last speech scenes. On March 1, the monarch, who can do no 1894, Gladstone delivered a re- wrong, might not approve of the sounding attack on the House of monumental jest prepared fo

the occasion. If dread memories of the famous formula “We are Men -did not know (wrote not amused” were to crowd in Morley) that they were listen-|upon the possible candidates it his last speech, but his might become a question of con- words fell in with the eager scripting rather than of appoint- humour of his followers arounding & Court jester.